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United States Patent | 6,111,737 |
Baldwin ,   et al. | August 29, 2000 |
An internal circuitry protection scheme which protects on-IC circuitry when an external regulator voltage pin is shorted to a higher voltage. The circuit prevents damage to the on-die circuitry that is on the internal voltage rail, by clamping the received voltage, thereby eliminating the chance of damaging the on die circuitry. The circuit offers protection even if the voltage difference is large, but the difference remains small between the internal rail and the external regulated voltage under normal operation.
Inventors: | Baldwin; David J. (Allen, TX); Teggatz; Ross E. (McKinney, TX); Carpenter, Jr.; John H. (Rowlett, TX); Devore; Joseph A. (Richardson, TX) |
Assignee: | Texas Instruments Incorporated (Dallas, TX) |
Appl. No.: | 267490 |
Filed: | March 11, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: | 361/91.1; 361/18; 361/91.6; 361/111 |
Intern'l Class: | H02H 003/20 |
Field of Search: | 361/91.1,91.6,18,111 323/265,274,282,284 307/10.1 |
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5438213 | Aug., 1995 | Tailliet | 257/360. |
5444591 | Aug., 1995 | Chokhawala et al. | 361/18. |
5581432 | Dec., 1996 | Wellnitz et al. | 361/56. |
5963407 | Oct., 1999 | Fragapane et al. | 361/42. |
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